XX, 2025

Reserve Bank of India (Non-Banking Financial Companies– Acquisition of Shareholding or Control) Directions, 2025

In exercise of the powers conferred by Sections 45JA, 45K, 45L, 45M and 45MA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (Act 2 of 1934), the Reserve Bank of India being satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in the public interest to do so, hereby issues the Directions hereinafter specified.

Chapter I- Preliminary

A. Short Title and Commencement.

1. These directions shall be called the Reserve Bank of India (Non-Banking Financial Companies- Acquisition of Shareholding or Control) Directions, 2025.

2. These directions shall become effective from the date of issue.

B. Applicability

3. The provisions of these Directions shall be applicable to Non-Banking Financial Companies (hereinafter collectively referred to as ‘NBFCs’ and individually as an NBFC), excluding Housing Finance Companies (HFCs).

C. Definitions

4. In these Directions, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms used shall bear the meanings assigned to them below, and their cognate expressions and variations shall be construed accordingly:

(1) ‘control’ shall have the same meaning as assigned to it under clause (e) of sub-regulation (1) of regulation 2 of Securities and Exchange Board of India (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011;

(2) “public deposit” shall have the same meaning as contained in Reserve Bank of India (Non-Banking Financial Companies- Acceptance of Public Deposits) Directions, 2025;

(3) “relative” shall have the meaning assigned to it under clause 77 of section 2 of the Companies Act, 2013;

5. All other expressions, unless defined herein, shall have the meanings assigned to them under the RBI Act, 1934, the Companies Act, 1956 or the Companies Act, 2013 (Act 18 of 2013).

Chapter II: Acquisition of Shareholding or Control

A. Acquisition of Shareholding or Control of NBFCs

6. An NBFC shall require prior written permission of the Reserve Bank for the following:

(1) Any takeover or acquisition of control of the NBFC, which may or may not result in change of management;

(2) Any change in the shareholding of the NBFC, including progressive increases over time, which would result in acquisition/ transfer of shareholding of 26 percent or more of the paid-up equity capital of the NBFC.

Provided that, prior approval would not be required in case of any shareholding going beyond 26 percent due to buyback of shares/reduction in capital where it has approval of a competent Court. However, the same is to be reported to the Reserve Bank not later than one month from its occurrence.

B. Application for prior Approval

7. An NBFC shall submit an application, through PRAVAAH, in the company’s letter head, for obtaining prior approval of the Reserve Bank, along with the following documents:

(1) information about the proposed shareholders as per Annex I;

(2) sources of funds of the proposed shareholders acquiring the shares in the NBFC;

(3) declaration by the proposed shareholders that they are not associated with any unincorporated body that is accepting public deposits;

(4) declaration by the proposed shareholders that they are not associated with any company, the application for Certificate of Registration (CoR) of which has been rejected by the Reserve Bank;

(5) declaration by the proposed shareholders that there is no criminal case, including for offence under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 against them;

(6) bankers’ report on the proposed shareholders.

C. Requirement of prior Public Notice about Change in Control/ Management

8. Without prejudice to the requirements in the paragraph 6, a public notice shall be given in at least one leading national and in one leading local (covering the place of registered office) vernacular newspaper, at least 30 days before effecting: (i) the transfer of the ownership of the company by sale of shares, or (ii) transfer of control of the company, with or without sale of shares.

9. The public notice required in paragraph 8 shall be given by the NBFC and also by the transferee party or jointly by the parties concerned, after obtaining the prior permission of the RBI.

10. The public notice shall indicate the intention to sell or transfer ownership/ control, the particulars of transferee and the reasons for such sale or transfer of ownership/ control.

D. Investment from FATF non-compliant jurisdictions

11. Investments in an NBFC from FATF non-compliant jurisdictions shall not be treated at par with that from the FATF compliant jurisdictions.

Explanation: The FATF periodically identifies jurisdictions with weak measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing (AML/CFT) in its following publications (i) High-Risk Jurisdictions subject to a Call for Action, and (ii) Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring. A jurisdiction, whose name does not appear in the two aforementioned lists, shall be referred to as a FATF compliant jurisdiction.

12. A new investor from or through non-compliant FATF jurisdictions, whether in an existing NBFC or in a company seeking Certificate of Registration, shall not be allowed to directly or indirectly acquire ‘significant influence’ in the investee, as defined in the applicable accounting standards. Consequently, fresh investors (directly or indirectly) from such jurisdictions in aggregate should be less than the threshold of 20 per cent of the voting power (including potential voting power) of the NBFC.

Explanation: “Potential voting power” could arise from instruments that are convertible into equity, other instruments with contingent voting rights, contractual arrangements, etc. that grant investors voting rights (including contingent voting rights) in the future. In such cases, it should be ensured that new investments from FATF non-compliant jurisdictions are less than both (a) 20 per cent of the existing voting powers and (b) 20 per cent of existing and potential voting powers assuming those potential voting rights have materialised.

13. An investor in an existing NBFC holding their investments prior to the classification of the source or intermediate jurisdiction/s as FATF non-compliant, may continue with the investments or bring in additional investments as per extant regulations so as to support continuity of business in India.

Chapter III- Repeal and Other Provisions

A. Repeal and saving

14. With the issue of these Directions, the existing Directions, instructions, and guidelines relating to Acquisition of Shareholding or Control as applicable to Non-Banking Financial Companies stand repealed, as communicated vide notification dated XX, 2025. The Directions, instructions and guidelines repealed prior to the issuance of these Directions shall continue to remain repealed.

15. Notwithstanding such repeal, any action taken or purported to have been taken, or initiated under the repealed Directions, instructions and guidelines shall continue to be governed by the provisions thereof. All approvals or acknowledgments granted under these repealed lists shall be deemed as governed by these Directions.

B. Application of other laws not barred

16. The provisions of these Directions shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of the provisions of any other laws, rules, regulations, or directions, for the time being in force.

C. Interpretations

17. For the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of these Directions or in order to remove any difficulties in the application or interpretation of the provisions of these Directions, the RBI may, if it considers necessary, issue necessary clarifications in respect of any matter covered herein and the interpretation of any provision of these Directions given by the RBI shall be final and binding.